The Cold War Begins: 1946-1953
CHAPTER 39
OBJECTIVES
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Describe the economic transformation of the
immediate post-WWII era.
Explain the changes in the American
population structure brought about the “baby
boom”.
Explain the growth of the tensions between
the US and the Soviet Union after
Roosevelt’s death and Germany’s defeat
OBJECTIVES
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Describe the early Cold War conflicts over
Germany and Eastern Europe
Describe the expansion of the Cold War to
Asia and the Korean War.
Analyze the postwar domestic climate in
America and explain the growing fear of
internal communist subversion.
Roots of the Cold War
U.S. point of view
Stalin seemed intent on creating “spheres” of influence in Eastern
Europe
Yalta Conference
U.S. wanted democracy spread throughout the world
“Iron Curtain” Speech
Soviet Point of view
Eastern Europe would become a “buffer zone”
Partitioning
Korea & Vietnam (1954 Geneva Conference: after French were
defeated at Dein Bein Phu) split into northern and southern zones
Germany split into 4 zones with Berlin also being split in to
quadrants
The Cold War [1945-1991]:
An Ideological Struggle
Soviet &
Eastern Bloc
Nations
[“Iron Curtain”]
GOAL  spread worldwide Communism
METHODOLOGIES:
US & the
Western
Democracies
GOAL  “Containment”
of Communism & the
eventual collapse of the
Communist world.
[George Kennan]
1. Espionage [KGB vs. CIA]
2. Arms Race [nuclear escalation]
3. Ideological Competition for the minds and hearts
of Third World peoples [Communist govt. &
command economy vs. democratic govt. & capitalist
economy]  “proxy wars”
4. Bi-Polarization of Europe [NATO vs. Warsaw Pact]
The Division of Berlin
Berlin Blockade &
Airlilft
The Bipolarization of Europe
National Defense Budget [1940-1964]
US gov’t reorganization and rearmament
1. National Security Act of 1947 created the
Department of Defense
2. National Security Council (NSC) 1948
3. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) 1949
4. NSC Number 68 (1950)
5. “Voice of America”
6. Atomic Energy Commission
George Kennan [“X Article”]:
CONTAINMENT
Goals
Means
Actual Application
1. Restoration
of the balance
of power
Encouragement
of selfconfidence in
nations
threatened by
Soviet expansion.
Long-term
program of U.S.
economic
assistance
[Marshall Plan]
2. Reduction of
Soviet ability
to project
outside power.
Exploitation of
tensions in
international
communism.
Cooperation with
communist regimes;
[supporting Titoism
in Yugoslavia]
George Kennan [“X Article”]:
CONTAINMENT
Goals
Means
Actual Application
3. Modification
of the Soviet
concept of
international
relations.
Negotiating
settlement of
outstanding
differences.
Using “carrots &
sticks’;
containing
Germany with an
embrace and
Russia at arms
length.
Policy of “Containment”
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1947, US ambassador to Russia, George Kennan, warned Truman that the
USSR sought to expand its empire
– Became the basis for Truman’s “containment” policy
Truman Doctrine- defined US policy for the next 20 years
– Initiated a policy of “containment”
– Truman asked congress for $400 million to support democracy in Turkey
and Greece
Marshall Plan (1947)
– Sec. of State George C. Marshall invited Europeans to create a joint plan
for economic recovery. US would provide financial assistance
 Congress at first hesitant but change course after the Sovietsponsored coup d’ etat in Czechoslovakia in Feb. 1948
– Within a few years, most recipients of the plan’s aid were exceeding prewar output
– E. Europe nations prohibited from accepting US & W. European aid
Cold War during Truman’s 2nd Term
(under Sec. of Sate Dean Acheson)
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North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato)
– Collective security organization that essentially warned Moscow that a
threat to any of the signatories would be met with force
– Warsaw Pact included all Eastern Bloc countries- satellite countries
– ANZUS
– CENTO
Soviet Union exploded atomic bomb in Sept. 1949; U.S. no longer had
monopoly
– World now had 2 atomic superpowers
China became Communist in 1949
– Chang-Kai-Shek
– Mao Zedongs communist forces defeated nationalists who fled to Formosa
(Taiwan)
The Hydrogen Bomb
– Worlds two super powers were U.S. & USSR
Korean War
[1950-1953]
Korean War
[1950-1953]
Kim Il-Sung
Syngman Rhee
“Domino Theory”
The Shifting Map of Korea
[1950-1953]
Cold War during Truman’s 2nd Term
(under Sec. of Sate Dean Acheson)
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Negotiations of Korean War
–
–
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Cease fire (July 27, 1953)
DMZ
Results of Korean War
–
–
–
54,000 US soldiers & 3,000 UN troops dead
UN repelled North Korean attack
US successfully enforced its “containment” policy
Truman’s First Term
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Taft-Hartley Act, June 1947
– Conservative response to powerful labor unions
– John L. Lewis
– “right to work” laws
Civil Rights: gains for African Americans
– To Secure These Rights
– Desegregation of the armed forces
– Jackie Robinson
Presidential Succession Act of 1947
22nd Amendment, 1951 (“Anti-FDR amendment”)
Anti-Communist Crusade- “Red
Scare”
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American fears- paranoia regarding communism and its sympathizers
Smith Act of 1940
Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC) indicts Alger Hiss, 1947
– Richard Nixon led the movement to indict Alger Hiss
Truman’s “loyalty” program
– Loyalty Review Board
McCarran Internal Security Bill (1950)
The Rosenbergs, 1954
Blacklisting
– “Hollywood Ten”
McCarthyism
– Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (Wisconsin Republican
– John Birch Society
– Arthur Miller’s The Crucible
Election of 1948
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Truman defeats Dewey in a stunning upset
Democrats split into 3 camps: Truman, southern States’ Rights
party, Progressive Party
Thomas Dewey republican candidate
Truman called for housing, full employment, and higher
minimum wage, better farm supports, new TVAs and extension
of social security and more civil rights for African Americans
Truman’s victory came with support from farmers, workers, and
blacks
Democrats established clear majority in both houses of
Congress